Eric Lindros returns to the Flyers (for an hour or so, anyway)

Eric Lindros returns to the Philadelphia Flyers (for an hour or so, anyway)

A familiar face in the familiar orange of a Philadelphia Flyers jersey ambled up the stairs from the ice early Thursday afternoon. It was Eric Lindros, the retired star, and before he could catch his breath, someone asked him how he felt.

“Tired,” he said, smiling through the sweat.

Lindros, who played his final NHL game five years ago, skated with the Flyers during their usual pre-game skate at Air Canada Centre on Thursday. He was in full equipment, save for the shoulder pads, and was one of the last players off the ice.

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Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren had invited him, he said, to “come down to the room, say hello to the guys, go out for a skate and have your butt handed to you.”

Here is a partial transcript of what Lindros, 39, had to say to reporters after the skate:

Could (former linemates) Mikael Renberg or John LeClair do what you did here today?(chuckles) “That was a lot of fun. It’s a good time. Any time you can wake up, head to this building and go have some fun on the ice, it’s a blast. It really is.”

And you’ve never lost that spark?“Hockey’s a great game. I get out on the ice a lot. We’re fortunate, we have some outdoor ice facilities in Toronto, and we get out there as much as we can, get some skates in during the week.”

Any of the guys give you a hard time?“Uh, yeah. Scottie Hartnell gave me a quick little shot.”

It’s amazing how time just quickly flies …“Yeah, it does. But here we are. And what brings everyone together is the game of hockey, the purity of the sport. It can branch off into several different areas, but at heart is the game itself. It’s wonderful to be around here.”

You played in both Philadelphia and Toronto …“They’re both very passionate cities. If you could kind of plot your course in terms of your career, I think playing in a city like Toronto and certainly in a city like Philadelphia, those are two cities you’d certainly want to put on your list of places to be in. I was fortunate — although a short time in Toronto — that I did get a chance to come and play here, and play at home.”

When you decided to hang up your skates a few years ago, did you have any doubt, or were you ready?“I didn’t have any doubt at all. I was ready to move on. I think when you get older, too, you realize there’s more to life than going out and playing the game. The game is fantastic, but there’s many more things to do. I’ve had the opportunity to explore a few different areas and tributaries from what spilled off from the game. And I’ve enjoyed it. Things have come along nicely. I’m a fortunate guy.”

What do you think about Jaromir Jagr still out on the ice?“Old man! He still has it, you know? He’s so smart. And you see him at practice, he works on his game constantly. He really has a passion for it, a flare for it. And you can see when there’s 15 players at one end of the ice after practice, he’s down there with two or three getting more pucks and more opportunity to improve. He knows what he’s doing. He loves it.”